Aurora Scroll

Tanael was falling in a tunnel of stars.

It was like those things when spaceships were in FTL modes. After he disengaged from Freya, he mentally sounded his desire to retire and a few seconds later, he was here. He could only assume he was in the process of returning to the real world.

Tanael doubted he was actually in a far away place. This was just aesthetic. Either way, he paid little attention to the outside world right now. His inner thoughts were too preoccupied with his recent experience.

...I’m alive. That counts as a win, in my book.

Tanael didn't get the scroll, but he still had everything else that he wanted to gain from the Tower of Remorse raid. The scroll was like a reward from a bonus stage that he couldn't obtain.

Did I make the right choice?

His time of introspection was over too soon because his feet touched the ground. This was it. He was back in the real world from the Aurora Scroll trial space.

The destruction of the Tower and the carnage, the chaos that came with the jailbreak, the aftermath of the battle between the cult forces and the prison defenders. The returning participants from the Aurora Scroll race were added to that volatile mix. He sensed many battles around him.

Some people realized his arrival and tried to take advantage. His wounds after battling Freya painted him as an easy mark.

Tanael erased his presence with Vanish in Abyss Arte and left them confused.

My priority is to get out of here, fast. Everything else comes after.

Tanael’s stealth skill was too high and he easily moved past them. He kept moving and making progress to escape from the entire battlefield.

“Hm?”

Tanael sensed something he deemed important enough and made a slight course alteration to the west. There were already vultures hanging around his prize.

“Bro, what should we do?”

“The battle went to hell. Everything’s fucked up. We didn't even get any loot... Or so I thought. Turns out the Lord of Fire is guiding us here.”

From the way they were clothed and speaking, they were Chalchar cultists. Tanael snuck up on them. Before he launched a sneak attack, he suddenly coughed blood and fell to one of his knees. Wounds from Freya were acting up. Small wonder, since he got stabbed through the chest. His lungs were out of whack, despite the healing factor and potions he consumed.

“Who’s there?” One man drew his sword.

“The fuck are you? Wait-”

The second man, the older man’s eyes, grew with greed. Like a hungry lion looking at a crippled deer. The great amount of blood on Tanael’s torso was impossible to miss.

“Go away and I’ll let you leave,” Tanael said while wiping his bloody mouth. A generous offer that he usually didn't make but he was so tired.

The cultist didn't mince words and attacked, his hand burning with unholy blue fire. The youngster was a second late but followed his senior’s lead.

A Level 3 and a Level 2 attacked a Level 4 that they thought was on death’s door. Normally, they would be correct. Tanael’s aura was very weak and his injuries were grave.

“Fools.”

Arte - Spirit Supremacy.

Tanael had a stressful day, then these two refused his kindness. In response, Tanael’s weight of soul and his unbridled killing intent fell upon the two cultists. The Haki-inspired technique didn't spread out to the surroundings but focused on those two, making it even more potent.

The Level 2 straight-up died from heart failure.

The Level 3 fared better thanks to his Unreality Field and only unconscious because of soul damage. Probably would be in a coma for decades. If he awoke, there was a high likelihood he would become a human vegetable.

Tanael pointed his Beam Saber at the two fallen men, and lit up his weapon briefly. Piercing one at a time and searing their brains just to be sure before putting them in his corpse goodie bag.

Unexpectedly, the soul of the Level 3 was drawn to another place.

Did he make a deal with his soul as the currency for a devil or something? Transaction denied! Your soul is mine!

Arte - Silksong Creation: Thread.

A soul thread emerged from his hand and swiftly coiled around the soul, covering it like a cocoon. He tugged the thread and he absorbed the soul. Tanael cared not for any soul IOU.

He was fond of this Arte because of its versatility. The thread was flexible and nigh impossible to cut. It already showed its worth in the previous battle. He looked forward to its future use.

Slowly, he came closer to the ‘prize’.

General Gregory of the Silver Legion, Freya’s master, lay at his feet. Unconscious and already dying from the wounds he suffered.

Tanael looked upon him in silence for a few seconds.

Then he smiled. He conjured a sword made of soul.

And pierced Gregory in the chest.

A gift for Freya.

***

“Freya! Freya! Wake up!”

Freya was roused from her slumber because of the voices. Just opening her eyes seemed difficult, but she persisted and saw the faces of her precious friends.

“Thank goodness! You’re hurt so bad, I thought... I thought...” Casey never finished. Her healing Arte was hampered because of her being emotional so she redid it.

Hunter put his hand on the healer’s shoulder. “She’ll be fine. Our leader always prevails.”

Her second in command, Eliott, was more measured in his response. “How are you feeling? I take it you won?” He said while looking at the Aurora Scroll in her hand.

“Tanael...” Freya said with difficulty. “Is he around?”

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“He survives? Well, we didn't see him,” Eliott said. “Those that came out from that space arrive at random locations. Not too far away, but it's over quite a wide area.”

“I... need to go after him,” Freya tried to stand. “He’s too dangerous to let free.”

“You cannot! What did you even do? Your body is about to break!” Casey said with a horrified expression.

Freya tried to recall everything. She went so far beyond her limits that when she looked back, she couldn't even see the dividing line. But that was necessary.

In her hand, was the proof of her efforts. The Aurora Scroll that Tanael almost took. Even though the contents were temporarily inside her from the initial temporary fusion, it wasn't as if the empty scroll was useless. She feared what someone like Tanael could do with a blank Fate, so she had to take it back.

She was successful.

I won... or did I?

Freya didn't feel she won. Tanael got away... and what happened at the end of battle.

Freya looked like she had been struck by lightning.

“Enemies incoming!”

Just as she was about to check the scroll, Hunter shouted. Some forces of the cultists were coming their way. Their Silver Legion garbs made them easy to identify and made them a target. That was before factoring in the scroll’s aura that was like a treasure beacon.

A group of fifty enemies, including monsters. Among them, there were at least half a dozen Level 4.

They were unable to contain such a force. Even at their peak, they wouldn't engage such a strong battle force.

The cultists’ Level 5 combatants fell in the Aurora Scroll starry race, but their lower tier forces were still a substantial fighting force. On the other hand, Freya’s side and the prison defenders were more or less decimated.

“Casey, get Freya out of here!”

“We’ll buy you some time!”

“Eliott, Hunter, no!”

Crisis after crisis. Freya tried to act, but her body wouldn't listen to her. Just as they were about to clash, a Level 5 aura stopped all hostilities.

A woman was floating above them.

She was none other than Flavia Marianus, Supreme Commander of the Silver Legion.

“Grandmother...” Freya smiled with relief.

With a wave of her hand, all the demons and monsters died, exploded spontaneously. On the other hand, the cultists were encased in cages of holy light.

“Freya dear, you have done brilliantly,” Flavia said with a tender smile. For a second, her eyes landed on the Aurora Scroll before moving away. “Leave the rest to us.”

The Supreme Commander looked like a woman in her forties. Her hair was black like a raven’s, the same as Freya. She raised her hand as a signal.

And an army of Silver Legion, two thousand of them, arrived. They came from beyond the mountain, riding winged horses. Their wrath fell upon the cultist forces.

Her friends cheered at the reinforcements’ arrival. Freya would too if her body was in a better condition. However, a small part of her wondered: Why now? Why so late?

She was too tired to pursue that line of thought. The battle of the Tower of Remorse was truly over. The Silver Legion defeated the coalition of Seven Devil Cults but was this a victory?

The Tower of Remorse was ravaged. Many of the criminals had escaped. The ripples of such an event...

The cults lost many of their forces. Several Level 5s and even their deities avatars. Not a light loses, but they would bounce back. They always did.

And the cost of victory... Freya felt some loses keener than others.

Cedric... Master...

Flavia descended near them and showered Freya with healing light. It was night and day compared to Casey’s Arte, but Freya hadn't recovered. That was how wounded she was. She was grateful all the same. At least she could stand.

“Supreme Commander Flavia,” Freya and the others saluted. “Thank you for your aid.”

“I wish I could come sooner, children. Forgive me,” Flavia’s expression was regretful.

Freya didn't comment on that.

“Commander, please raise your head. We’re only doing our duty,” Eliott said. “More importantly-”

“A new Demon King has risen, born out of Dumuzin’s foul blessing. I believe he’s the greatest threat.”

A Demon King was not something Flavia could regard lightly.

“I see... I’ll notify the men and put up a search net.”

“Please do. There are several high priority targets too. One of them is Tanael. A Level 4, one of the Tower’s assailants. He should still be around here. I strongly suggest the capture or elimination of this highly dangerous individual.”

It was an unusual request from Freya to name an individual. She must have a high regard towards this man, Flavia surmised.

The group briefly gave their report, including the sealed Infernal in the ruined Tower depths and the Devil God avatars.

“Thank you, Legionary. I’ll handle it from here. Go get some rest,” Flavia said.

“No, Commander. I still have something to do... My friend and Master Gregory remains. I have to find them first.”

With the manner of their death, Freya doubted she would find a body at all. Still, she had to try to find some of their remains. She had to. They deserved a proper burial.

“I see,” Flavia sighed. “Gregory’s over there. Follow me.”

“My gratitude, Commander.”

Freya was still wobbly on her feet, so her friends lent her their shoulders. Eventually, they saw a body on the ground. They could see a sword jutting out of his chest.

Freya broke into a run, even if she fell down once, she rose up and ran again. She knelt before her master’s body. There was no heart beat or breath. Her tiny hope that he might be still alive was utterly extinguished.

“...I’m sorry I failed you. Master... I am truly sorry.”

Tears fell from her face. Freya’s friends didn't approach and gave Freya some space. Only Flavia did.

“Rest well, old friend,” she said.

Freya heard her. Grandmother and Master Gregory were friends. Who knew how many decades they had fought side by side together. Since she didn't know her grandfather, who Flavia kept a secret no matter what, more than once Freya thought Gregory might be her grandfather.

She never called him grandfather even once.

Now she regretted it.

She should be, because no matter if they were related by blood or not, she loved Gregory like a real family.

And not he was dead and she lost her chance forever.

Freya was so shocked that she only then realized the nature of the sword in Gregory’s chest.

It was a soul construct, a sword made from souls, and she knew who that soul signature belonged to.

Tanael. He did this.

“...Unforgivable.”

***

Earth will rage, sky will weep, man will fear, as it is born. If the daughter of light is there without intercession, guided by untainted destiny, a sliver of greatness will fall into her grasp. The shadow in the form of man will not surrender it without a fight. Sweet defeat, swift and fleeting. Death stalks the stalwart mentor. Broken shell will contain either hope or emptiness.

Flavia knew Freya’s prophecy. In a way, she was complicit in the death of her dear friend.

The prophecy had been fulfilled. Freya obtaining the Aurora Scroll was proof of that. Not even Flavia expect the sliver of greatness was this significant. Every wielder of the scroll became great figures that shaped history.

She now witnessed the broken shell. There was no hope here, only emptiness.

Flavia wondered, how long it had been since she became the very monster that she always fought against?

Just as she sensed, Freya’s dark anger, as if something in the ocean depth stirred, the sword flashed with bright light.

“What in the world?”

When Flavia lowered her hand that covered her eyes, the sword had disappeared. She thought it was a booby trap so she protected Freya and herself with a barrier, but it was not.

As her sight came to normal, she truly saw hope.

“Freya? Flavia?” Gregory said confusedly. “What is going on?”

“Master? Y-you’re... How is this possible?”

Flavia was as confused as Freya was.

“I was sure I was- Ooof!”

“Thank goodness!” Freya hugged him tight. “Thank goodness you’re back!”

Flavia and Freya’s friends shared her feelings. It was a truly a blessing from the heavens.

“Hey guys... Am I interrupting something?”

“Whoa! You surprised me,” Hunter turned around. “Cedric?”

“Cedric!? Is this your ghost?” Casey gasped.

“Whaaat? No! I have feet. It’s me! Actually, I’m not sure how I survived myself, but I ain't complaining. It is good to see you. Whoah! Stop it!”

“C’mere, you rascal!” Eliott had Cedric in a tight bear hug. “This will teach you how to not be reckless again.”

“Arrrghhh! I’m dying! I’m dying for real this time!”

Freya laughed. Her tears of sorrow turned to tears of joy. Her heart was filled with pure happiness.